Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 1
By: Frank Herbert, adapted by Brian Herbert
Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Specialist
Genre: Science Fiction
Suggested Age: Teens, Adults
What is the book about? This book is the latest graphic novelization of the science fiction classic, Dune, written by Frank Herbert in 1965. It is an epic story of greed, mysticism, and betrayal all set in the far distant future when Earth is a barely remembered footnote and interstellar politics revolve around the precious spice from the planet Arrakis. The royal House Harkonnen has controlled Arrakis for forty years, but now the emperor has ordered their rival, House Atreides, to take their place. Trading their vibrant, water-rich, ancestral planet of Caladan for the what seems like the desolate wasteland of Arrakis, also called “Dune,” the members of House Atreides follow the emperor’s orders all while anticipating a deadly trap.
My Review: If you’ve never tackled the original novel, this would be a great introduction into Frank Herbert’s Dune universe. This graphic novel is a scene-by-scene adaptation of the first part of the original novel, but the artwork allows you to absorb quickly what Herbert may have taken pages to describe. Since I am a big fan of the 1984 film version, I relished the similarities this book has with that film, especially the dialogue. I found the artwork to be fantastic, especially how it conveyed the powerful nature of the giant sandworms and how the ornithopers looked like sleek birds cutting through the air. Overall, this was a faithful and enjoyable rendition of the pivotal science fiction classic. The graphic novel series of Dune will be published as a series of three books. I am eagerly anticipating the next two in the series, as well as the new movie adaptation coming out in October.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Saga, Space Opera, Expansive
Give This a Try if You Like…Dune by Frank Herbert, Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation by Tim Hamilton & Ray Bradbury, or Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
Rating: 5/5